Lancashire

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley forward Lyle Foster could potentially feature in the Clarets' game at West Bromwich Albion on Thursday night pending the outcome of medical scans.

The 24-year-old has been out with a knee problem but is "not too far away" from returning, according to head coach Scott Parker, while fellow forward Nathan Redmond and defender Hjalmar Ekdal are also on the way back to fitness.

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey is "getting there" and in training but still nursing his cruciate ligament injury.

A return for Foster would provide support up top for a side who are struggling for goals, though Parker has said "there is no magic wand" to see progress.

The Clarets have only found the net four times in their past seven matches and failed to register a single shot on target in their 1-0 defeat to Millwall on Sunday, which Parker said was "nowhere near good enough".

"We have some issues now in terms of our attacking side of the game. We are focusing on that more than ever," Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"70 or 80% of our training programme now is around us getting in the final third, trying to improve, trying to get us to be the team we want to be.

"We want to be a free-flowing, dynamic football team."

Image source, BBC Sport

West Brom are without a win in their last seven games (D5 L2) following a 1-1 draw at Luton on Friday night and have slipped to sixth in the Championship.

Fourth-placed Burnley suffered only their second defeat of the season when they lost 1-0 at Millwall on Sunday having previously been unbeaten in nine games. The Clarets have now failed to win in three.

• West Bromwich Albion are winless in their last five league games against Burnley (D3 L2) since a 1-0 win in August 2017.

• Burnley are looking for consecutive league wins over West Brom for the first time since August 2007.

• West Brom have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven league games at the Hawthorns (W3 D3 L1), though have failed to score in their previous three matches there. The Baggies haven't endured a longer such run outside the top flight since April 1939 (4 games).

• Burnley have won just one of their last six midweek league games (D2 L3), though are unbeaten in both such games this season (W1 D1).

• Scott Parker has won both of his previous EFL meetings with sides managed by Carlos Corberan, with Bournemouth beating Huddersfield 3-0 both home and away in the Championship in 2021-22.

Image source, Getty Images

You may have already noticed a different layout and feel to your Preston North End club page - a fresh revamp for our coverage of all Championship teams.

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Image source, Rex Features

You may have already noticed a different layout and feel to your Burnley club page - a fresh revamp for our coverage of all Championship teams and a return to the format from your time in the Premier League.

On this page, BBC Sport will serve up a bespoke club service, complete with the latest news and analysis on everything Clarets.

If you are on the app, don't miss a beat by tapping the bell icon and signing up for news notifications.

And if you are on a browser, tap 'Follow' at the top to ensure the best content is always at your fingertips.

Image source, BBC Sport

Sunderland are looking to return to winning ways when they visit Preston on Wednesday night following a 0-0 draw at QPR at the weekend. The Black Cats are top of the Championship and unbeaten in six games (W4, D2).

Meanwhile, the Lilywhites are without a win in three (D2, L1) and are just two points above the relegation zone before the midweek Championship fixtures.

• Preston North End have lost two of their past three league games against Sunderland (W1), as many as in their previous 14 meetings (W6, D6, L2).

• Sunderland have lost three of their past five league visits to Deepdale (W1, D1), including a 2-1 defeat in August 2023.

• At Deepdale, Preston are unbeaten in their past 21 league games in midweek (W10, D11) - only Manchester City are enjoying a longer ongoing such run in the top four tiers of English football (49 games unbeaten).

• Sunderland have won both their midweek league games so far this season and could win three in a row for the first time since February 2023.

• Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom is unbeaten in five previous encounters with Sunderland in the EFL (W4, D1). Only against Birmingham (P6, W4, D2) has he faced a side more often without losing.